The snow and ice may say otherwise, but warm weather can’t be too far away when Lake Pepin’s seasonal restaurants begin coming out of their annual hibernation. Several are launching their 2013 season this weekend.

Fans of the popular Chef Shack food truck can get their late-winter fix at Chef Shack Bay City (W6379 Main St., Bay City, Wis., 1-715-594-3060, www.chefshack.org). The bricks-and-mortar version of Lisa Carlson’s and Carrie Summer’s standard-setter is also kicking off its rotation (Friday and Saturday dinner, Sunday brunch) — and seasonally focused menus — this weekend.

Also opening Friday: Bogus Creek Cafe (N2049 Spring St., Stockholm, Wis., 1-715-442-5017, www.boguscreekcafe.com). It’s going to be a while before diners can enjoy owner Colleen Flynn’s charming patio, but the breakfast-all-day menu, supplemented by lunch and a wide range of house-baked breads and sweets, will follow a Friday-through-Sunday schedule.

Coming next month: When it returns April 5, the Smiling Pelican Bakeshop (W3556 Hwy. 35, Maiden Rock, Wis., 1-715-448-3807) will continue its regular Friday-Saturday-Sunday format. Count me a fan of baker Sandra Thielman’s lavender-ginger sugar cookies and her awesome quiches, and I fully believe that if you don’t flip for her pies, then there’s something wrong with you.

Closer to home, there has to be a thaw on the way when Twin Cities drive-ins — the ones that shut down for the winter, anyway — start pouring root beer once again. The Minnetonka Drive-In (4658 Shoreline Dr., Spring Park, 952-471-9383) is already up and running, serving 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Since 2003, the Taste Holiday Cookie Contest has been shining a spotlight on wonderful recipes. This year's top winner is a doozy, and it involves that beloved made-in-Minnesota candy bar, the Nut Goodie.